Coin operated vending machines



Aug. 9, 1966 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,265,177

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KARL KNICKERBOCKER ATT NEY g- 9, 1966 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,285,177

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2, 1964 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fug'fl' KARL KNICKERBOCKER INVEN 1 OR 9, 1966 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,265,177

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 44c 48 Fig.7 is? INVENTOR KARL KNICKERBOCKER BY ATTNEY United States Patent 3,265,177 (IQIN GPERATED VENDING MAQHlNES Karl Knickerbocker, 400 Baycrest Drive, Eayshore Estates, Venice, Fla. Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Scr. No. 401,090 6 Claims. (Cl. 19454) The present invention relates to mechanism for controlling a latch or the like for the door, or other dispensing element, of a vending machine which is permitted to be opened or operated when proper coins have been deposited in the mechanism.

In general, the present invention relates to an improvement in the type of coin operated dispensing mechanism in which a proper coin or combination of .coins deposited in a coin chute are prevented from moving upwardly or retracting into the chute and thereby form an abutment which operates a latch actuated by the dispensing movement of the dispensing element resulting in the latch releasing the element for a dispensing event, but should an improper coin or combination of coins be present, the recessive movement of the coins prevents releasing of the latch. Also a coin return device is provided for returning improper coins by pressing a plunger or like operation.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a coin operated latching mechanism comprising a coin receiving chute in which one wall of the chute may be moved relative to the other to release bent coins or coins of improper denominations and which releasing movement is effected by shifting the coin chute structure relative to a base on which it is mounted so that the coin discharge end of the chute is moved from alignment with a coin receiver to alignment with a coin return trough. Preferably, the side of the coin chute moves laterally of the other side to provide maximum release clearance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of stop means to prevent operation of the coin release mechanism at the time the vending element of the vending machine is operated thereby preventing discharge of the latch actuating coins into the return trough.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a coin operated mechanism of the type referred to in which the mechanism can be readily set to operate in response to various coin combinations.

The invention also provides a coin mechanism which can be readily connected in and removed from a vending machine for operating the latching mechanism thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a newspaper vending machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the coin mechanism of the vending machine, the view being taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the coin mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing certain parts of the mechanism in different positions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the coin releasing latch mechanism;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views of the coin chute structure taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 8 and showing the coin chutes in the coin retaining and coin release positions, respectively; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the coin mechanism with the parts thereof in the position shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1 the invention is shown embodied in a newspaper vending machine comprising a cabinet 20, only the upper part of which appears in the drawings,

which may be of conventional construction having an interior to accommodate a stack of newspapers and including a front door 21 pivoted to the bottom of the cabinet and having a handle structure 22 projecting upwardly above the cabinet and which has a hand grip 22a by which the door may be opened to gain access to the newspapers. The door is biased closed by a spring, not shown, and is normally retained latched closed by means described hereinafter.

A coin mechanism housing 23 is suitably attached to the top wall of cabinet 20 and includes a front wall 23a, side walls 23b and 23c and an L-shaped cover 23d which is hinged at 236 to the top of the front wall.

The cover may be locked in place by a conventional lock 24 having a rotatable lock member 24a which is rotated by a key, not shown, to engage or disengage a lip 23 formed along the bottom rear edge of the housing opening to lock and unlock the cover. Thus, housing 23 may be opened at the rear and top by swinging cover 23d forwardly and upwardly for removing coins from the housing or, if necessary, to replace a coin mechanism 25 secured in the housing as is described hereinafter.

Door 21 is normally maintained in a locked position by the latching mechanism which is actuated to release the door When the door is moved toward its open position, provided a proper coin or combination of coins is placed in the mechanism, as is described more fully hereinafter. The door latching mechanism includes a latch member 26 pivotally carried by a pin 27,- the ends of which are supported by a pair of spaced lugs 26c, only one of which appears in the drawings, struck from a plate 28 secured to the inside of the handle structure 22. A coil spring 29, having its intermediate portion surrounding pin 27 and its ends engaging plate 28 and latch 26, respectively, tends to urge the latch counterclockwise toward a stop 28w struck from plate 28. Latch 26 includes three fingers 26a, 26b and 260 which project from the open rear side of the handle structure and through an opening 23g in housing wall 23a. Central finger 26b has a longitudinal slot 26d formed therethrough through which a fixed hook portion 30a, formed on a latch plate 30 attached to the inner side of wall 23a, extends. It will be seen that as long as latch 26 is retained in its upper position, as shown in FIG. 2, the right-hand edge of slot 26d will engage hook portion 300 to prevent opening of door 21. When latch 26 is depressed to drop finger 26b below hook portion 30a, door 21 can then be opened by drawing outwardly on hand grip 22a. The slope of the left hand edge of hook portion 30a serves to cam latch finger 26b downwardly as door 21 is closed and when slot 26d is brought into alignment with the hook portion latch 26 then moves upwardly to its latching position by the action of spring 29.

Latch plate 30 is secured to housing wall 23a by two bolts 31 and 32 which are supported in openings through opposed side walls 33a and 33b of a U-shaped mounting bracket 33 secured as by spot welding to the inside of the wall and is spaced from the side walls of the bracket by spacers 34. Fingers 26a and 260 extend on either side of latch plate 30 and are eifective to tilt latch member 26 and finger 26b to the latch releasing position when the proper coin or coins are inserted in the coin mechanism and the door is moved toward open position, as described more fully hereinafter.

The improved coin mechanism 25 is preferably detachably secured in housing 23 on the inside of front wall 23a in operative relation with the latch mechanism described hereinbefore in such a manner that it can be readily removed and replaced, if desired. In its preferred form, coin mechanism 25 comprises a base plate 36, which is supported on the rear side of front wall 23a by two rivets 37 which project rearwardly from wall 23a and which are received in semi-circular notches 36a formed in the bottom edge of the base plate and the heads of which are spaced from the wall to receive the notched portions of the plate between the heads and the wall, the heads being of greater diameter than the notches. The upper portion of base plate 36 is supported and centered by two circular pins 38 attached to wall 23a and which extend through two openings formed adjacent the top of the base plate. The top portion of plate 36 is held to wall 23a by a swinging clip 39 pivotally attached at 39a to the wall and frictionally engaging the rear side of plate 36. Clip 39 may be rotated free of the plate to release the mechanism.

A coin chute structure is provided on base plate 36 comprising a channel shaped sheet metal member 41 having two opposed side walls 41a and 41b interconnected by a yoke wall 410 and which is pivotally supported to the base plate at the upper end thereof by a pin 42, the ends of which are carried in lugs 36b projecting laterally from an upper portion of the base plate. By this arrangement channel member 41 can swing rearwardly relative to base plate 36 and is normally biased to the base plate by a pair of coil springs 43 interconnecting the base plate and the lower part of the channel member. Preferably, side walls 41a and 41b are braced by a spacer 43a and a cross bar 43b.

The insides of channel walls 41a and 41b form the outer walls of a pair of coin chutes, the inner walls of which are formed by sheet metal strips or plates 44 and 45, respectively, having inturned flanges 44a and 45a along one edge and flanges 44b and 45b extending toward sides 41a and 41b, respectively. Flanges 44c and 450 are provided along edges of plates 44 and 45 opposite flanges 44a and 45a, respectively and in the form shown are L- shaped strips welded to plates 44 and 45. Plates 44 and 45 are pivotally carried by pins 46 extending through openings in flanges 44a, 44c and 45a, 450 the ends of which pins are supported in openings in lugs 41d, formed on channel sides 41a and 41b, and in openings in the yoke wall of channel member 41. Flanges 44b and 45b are notched and the unnotched portions extend through slotlike openings 48 in walls 41a and 41b to form closed ends of the coin chutes when plates 44 and 45 swing toward one another, as explained hereinafter, and the notched portions of these flanges engage walls 41a and 41b between openings 48 to space plates 44 and 45 from the adjacent walls 41a and 41b to permit the passage of coins therebetween. A coil spring 47 is between plates 44 and 45 and urges these plates toward the inner sides of channel walls 41a and 41b to engage the notched portions of flanges 44b and 45b with walls 41a and 41b, respectively. It will be seen that the sides of the coin chutes formed by plates 44 and 45 can be moved laterally and release coins jammed in the chutes for any reason, as is described more fully hereinafter. Preferably, tabs 41e provided on walls 41a and 41c prevent rearward movement of the plates 44 and 45.

Wall 41c has a central slot to receive the upper portion of latch plate 30 and the lower portion of base plate 36 is cut away to receive the latch plate. Coins are fed into the coin chute through two slots 50 in plate 36 and are accessible through an opening in wall 23a. Slots 50 register with slot-like openings 51 in opposite sides of channel member 41, only one of which appears in the drawings. Preferably, tab portions 51a are cut from channel walls 41a and 41b to guide coins into the coin chutes. In the embodiment shown, slots 50 are of different length and width to accommodate coins of different denominations.

The lower ends of the coin chutes are directly over fingers 26a and 26c, respectively, of latch member when the chute structure is positioned against base plate 36, as seen in FIG. 2, and when coins are fed into slots 50 they enter the coin chutes and drop downwardly and engage either one of fingers 26a or 26c and are supported in the lower ends of the coin chutes thereby, as is illustrated in 4 FIGS. 2 and 6, the latch spring 29 being of sufficient force to support the weight of the coins.

A dog 54 is provided on the outer wall of each coin chute to prevent upward movement of the coins in the chutes and to facilitate understanding of the dogs, only one dog 54 is described in detail, and like parts of all of the dog devices are indicated by like reference characters. Referring particularly to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, dog 54 comprises a bell crank member pivoted on a pin 55 and having a finger 54a adapted to extend into a longitudinal slot 41 formed in the outer wall 41a of the coin chute. The lower end of finger 54a is turned inwardly to form a ratchet-like stop, so that coins dropping through the chutes may force the finger to one side but coins attempting to move in the opposite direction cam the finger in its position transversely of the coin chute and blocks upward movement of the coins therebelow. The finger 54a is biased with the slot by a weight 54b attached to a laterally extending arm and positioned to urge finger 54a into its slot. A second finger 54c projects upwardly and engages channel wall 41a to prevent or limit movement of finger 54a out of the slot.

The dog 54 is supported on a slide bracket 56 which may be selectively and precisely positioned along slot 41f so that the fingers block a coin or combination of coins of certain diameters only to cause actuation of the latch, as is described hereinafter. Slide bracket 56 is slidingly secured to a track 57 which is attached to wall 41a parallel to slot 41f. Track 57 is T-shaped in cross section, having a flange 57a overhanging the sides of a base section 57b. Slide bracket 56 comprises a plate 56b having tabs 560 at the four corners thereof which are formed to embrace opposite edge portions of the flange 57a so that the slide is held to the track finger and is guided therealong. Slide plate 56b has a pair of laterally projecting lugs 56d in which pin 55 is supported so that one end projects from one side of the slide and supports dog 54 in alignment with slot 41]. Preferably, a spacer 60 is interposed between lugs 56d and 54d to properly position the dog.

Slide bracket 56 can be selectively positioned along track 57 by a stop lever 61 which has lugs 61a and 61b which nest within lugs 56d and which have openings receiving pin 55. Lug 61b has an extension 61c which forms a hand lever by which the lower portion of stop lever 61 can be swung about pivot pin 55 and the lower portion of the stop lever has an outturned flange 61d which projects laterally of slide plate 56b and engages in any of a series of notches 63a formed in a flange 63 attached to channel wall 41a. A coil spring 62 surrounds pin 55 and one end engages lever 610 to normally urge the lower portion of stop lever 61 toward slide bracket 56. Notches 63a are formed in flange 63 at appropriate points and flange 61d s urged into the slots by action of spning 62 when brought into registration with the notches. In shifting slide bracket 56 from one position to another it is only necessary to press lever 61c toward track 57 which raises stop flange 61d from the slot 63a in which it is engaged after which the s lide bracket is moved along the track to a desired position which will bring stop flange 61d in alignment with the appropriate notch and by releasing lever 61c the stop flange moves into the notch and retains the slide accurate- 1y positioned.

Preferably, a fixed dog device 54d, generally similar to dog 54, is pivoted on a pin 542 supported in openings through flanges 44a and 440 and the coin engaging finger of the dog extends into the coin chute formed by wall 41a and plate 44 through an opening 440. The operation of dog 54d is the same as that described with reference to dog 54, the principal difference being that this dog cannot be shifted and is set to operate on a given coin.

As mentioned previously, coins deposited in the respective coin chutes engage fingers 26a or 260, as the case may be, of latch member 26 and project below the lower ends of the chutes as is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein a coin C1 of three coins C1, C2 and C3 is shown extending below the coin chute walls 41a and 44a and resting on latch finger 260. The diameters of the coins shown are correct and therefore the upper edge of coin C3 is immediately below the lower end of stop finger 54a thereby blocking upward movement of the coins in the chute. When door 21 is pulled outwardly, the upwardly curved end of finger 260 is moved beneath the lower edge of coin C1 and because the coins cannot move upwardly the finger is depressed as the door is withdrawn, thereby causing latch member 26 to be rotated clockwise downwardly, dropping central finger 26b below the lower end of latch nose portion 30a so that the door is free to be opened. As the door is moved to its openposition the fingers 26a and 26c move from their coin blocking positions and the coins drop into the bottom of housing 23.

In the event improper coins are deposited in the coin chute, the upper edge of the coin adjacent to finger 54a will either be above the lower end of the finger or substantially spaced below the finger so that when door 21 is moved toward the open position, the upward curved finger 26a will raise the coins in the chute rather than causing depression of latch 26 and the inner end of slot 26d in finger 26b will engage nose portion 30a and block opening of the door.

It will be apparent that coins dropped in the other coin chute cooperate with finger 26a of latch 26 in a similar manner as that described with reference to coin C1 and finger 26c.

In order to release coins improperly deposited, or in the event a bent coin or slug is inserted in either of the coin chutes and becomes jammed, such coins may be returned by pressing a coin return plunger 65 which projects forwardly from the front of housing 23 and is guided for reciprocal movement by extending through a bushing 23g formed integral with the front wall of the housing. The inner end of plunger 65 extends through an opening in base plate 36 and engages the yoke wall of channel member 41 so that when plunger 65 is pressed inwardly, the channel member and the associated coin chute structure are swung inwardly about pivot pin 42 to a position in which the lower ends of the coin chutes are over the top of a sloping coin return trough 66 and beyond the ends of fingers 26a and 260, as seen in FIG. 8. As member 45 is swung rearwardly channel members 44- and 45 forming the inner sides of each coin chute are swung inwardly about their pivots 46 by a camming structure comprised of two similar, reversed form bell crank levers 67 which are pivoted to members 44- and 45 respectively by rivets 67a and which include inwardly turned wedge shaped cams having camming surfaces 67b, an edge of each of which engages a roller 68 attached to members 44 and 45, respectively. Cranks 67 are each rotated counter-clockwise by the pivotal movement of the coin structure rearwardly by reason of an upright arm portion 67c thereof connected by a link 68b to a lug 69 attached to base plate 36 and extending through an opening in the yoke wall 410 of channel member 41. The connections between the ends of each link 68B and arm 67c and lug 69 are by pins 68a which form pivots so that as the pins 67a carrying cranks 67 are moved away from plate 36, link 6% prevents corresponding movement of the upper ends of arms 670 thereby causing rotation of the crank levers 67 to cam members 44 and 45 toward one another and separate from the outer sides of the coin slots to release any bent or oversized coins which may have become clogged in the chutes. The rearward movement of the coin chute structure moves the outlets of the chutes over a return coin trough 66, as is illustrated in FIG. 8. When plunger 65 is released, springs 43 return the channel member 41 and plunger 65 outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Trough 66 is formed of sheet metal and the inside wall is attached to a flange 330, formed on bracket 33 by a screw 66a. The bottom of trough 66 slopes downwardly and leads to a coin return opening 70 in the front of housing 23 so that the coins discharged into the trough move by gravity to the return opening.

It will be seen by reference to FIG. 7 that flanges 44b move in openings 48 to maintain the rearward walls of the coin chute closed when the walls are separated, and flanges 45b similarly maintain the rearward wall of the other coin chute closed.

To prevent the possibility of coins being discharged into return trough 66 by the operator pressing plunger 65 inwardly at the time door 21 is opened, a blocking latch 72 is provided which is pivoted to plate 30 by pivot pin 73 and has a catch 72a thereon which drops into blocking position relative to a cross bar 43b. The blocking latch 72 includes a downwardly projecting leg 72b on which a cross member 720 is formed and to which one end of a return spring 74 is connected, the other end being hooked in an opening through flange 330 for urging blocking latch 72 clockwise. Leg 72b is engaged by the inner end of finger 26b of latch 26 when a door 21 is in closed position so that the blocking latch is rotated counter-clockwise to raise catch 72a above the path of movement of cross bar 43b as long as the door is closed. When door 21 is moved from its closed position, the withdrawal of finger 26b from leg 72b causes spring 74 to lower catch 72a to a position to be engaged by bar 4312 which blocks movement of the coin chute structure to its coin return position.

The upper edges of walls 33a and 33b of bracket 33 form partitions to prevent diversion of the coins out the opening 23g by persons inserting wires or the like in the paths of the coins as they are discharged.

It will be appreciated that although I have described but one form of the invention, other forms, modifications and adaptations could be made, all falling within the scope of the claims which follow.

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. In a coin operated mechanism:

(a) a base plate,

(b) a channel shaped coin chute structure member having two side walls interconnected by a yoke wall,

(c) means pivoting the upper end of said channel shaped member to said base plate for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the plane of said base plate,

(d) spring means urging the lower portions of said channel shaped member toward said base plate, (e) a pair of coin chute wall members each pivotally attached at their upper ends to the insides of the respective side walls of said channel shaped member and each chute member being swingable about an axis parallel to said side walls and toward one another about their pivots,

(f) cam means carried by said channel shaped member and cooperable with said chute wall members for urging said chute wall members towards one another; and

(g) linkage means between said base plate and cam means for actuating said cam means when said channel member is moved about its pivot relative to said base plate.

2. In a coin operated mechanism:

(a) abase plate,

(b) a coin chute structure including a first vertical wall member,

(0) means pivoting the upper end of said coin chute structure to said base plate for pivotal movement of said coin chute structure relative to said base plate,

((1) a second vertical coin chute structure including a second vertical wall member parallel to and adjacent said first vertical wall member,

(e) means supporting said second wall member on said coin chute structure for pivotal movement relative to said first wall member in a direction to swing said second wall member outwardly from said first wall member,

(f) a bell crank pivotally carried on said coin chute structure and engaging said second wall member for moving said second wall member away from said first wall member when said crank is rotated in one direction,

(g) a link between said base plate and said bell crank for rotating said crank in said one direction when said chute structure is moved about its pivot relative to said base plate, and

(h) means to move said chute structure relative to said 'base plate.

3. In a coin operated mechanism:

(a) a base plate,

(b) a channel shaped coin chute structure member having two side walls interconnected by a yoke wall,

(c) means pivoting the upper end of said channel shaped member to said base plate for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the plane of said base plate,

((1) spring means urging the lower portion of said channel shaped member toward said base plate, (e) a pair of coin chute wall members each pivotally attached at their upper ends to the insides of the respective side walls of said channel shaped member and swingable toward one another about their pivots,

(f a bell crank member pivoted to said channel shaped member and engaging at least one of said side coin chute wa-ll members for urging said last mentioned wall member from the adjacent inside side wall of said chute structure member when said crank is rotated in one direction,

(g) a link interconnecting said base plate and bell crank for rotating said crank in said one direction when said channel member is moved about its pivot relative to said base plate, and

(h) means to swing said channel member about its pivot.

4. In a coin operated mechanism including a cabinet,

(a) a dispensing element movable relative to said cabinet proper,

(b) means to control said dispensing element including a latch member, said latch member being movable to a position for latching said element in a nondispensing position and movable to an element releasing position,

() a frame,

(d) a coin chute structure supported by said frame and having a coin receiving opening at the top thereof and a coin discharge opening at the bottom thereof and adapted to be in registration with said latch member,

(e) means providing a coin receptacle beneath said coin chute discharge and a coin return trough adjacent to said receptacle, said latch member being operative to retain a coin in said discharge end of said chute,

(f) means to shift said coin chute from a position over said coin receptacle to a position over said trough and out of registration with said latch member, and

(g) a catch member supported for movement from an operative position to an inoperative position to block movement of said coin chute over said trough, said catch member being engaged by said latch member and controlled thereby to remain in said inoperative position when said latch member is in its element locking position and to move it into its operative position when said latch member moves to ufil afh said element.

5. In a coin operated dispensing device comprising a cabinet having a top wall and doorway in one end thereof, an upwardly extending support member attached to said cabinet and adjacent to said open end, a door for closing said doorway and having a portion extending alongside said support member when said door is in its doorway closed position, said door portion being swingable away from said support member when said door is moved toward its open position, coin controlled latching means attached to said support member and comprising, a frame and a coin chute structure supported by said frame and shiftable between two positions relative to said frame to discharge coins in first or second positions of said chute, said frame having a catch member formed thereon, a latch member attached to said door portion and adapted to latch with said catch member to prevent opening of said door, means responsive to a coin in said chute structure when said chute structure is in said first position to move said latch member from latching engagement with said latch member as said door is moved from its closed position, and latching means on said frame and chute structure and operative when in a latching position to prevent movement of said chute structure from said first to said second positions thereof, the last mentioned latching means being actuated to its latching position by movement of said latch member to disengage said catch member.

6. In a coin operated mechanism including a cabinet,

(a) a dispensing element movable relative to said cabinet proper,

(b) means to control said dispensing element including a latch member, said latch member being movable to a position for latching said element in a non-dispensing position and movable to an element releasing position,

(c) a frame,

(d) a coin chute structure supported by said frame and having a coin receiving opening at the top thereof and a coin discharge opening at the bottom thereof, said chute structure having spaced side walls to guide coins inserted into said opening,

(e) means providing a coin receptacle beneath said coin chute discharge and a coin return trough adjacent said receptacle,

(f) means responsive to a coin in said discharge end of said chute for actuating said latch member to release said element,

(g) means to shift said coin chute from a position over said coin receptacle to a position over said trough, and

(b) means for shifting one of said side walls of said coin chute structure relative to the other side wall in response to movement of said coin chute structure to a position over said trough to release coins therebetween.

Refereuccs Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,006 7/1932 Gilchrist 19404 2,327,154 11/1940 Osborne.

2,339,823 1/ 1944 Vogel 194-97 2,925,898 2/1960 Terry 194-54 3,159,262 3/1961 Vaccaro et a1 194-61 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,254,985 1/ 1961 France.

648,139 7/1937 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner. R. M. WALKER, H. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A COIN OPERATED MECHANISM: (A) A BASE PLATE, (B) A CHANNEL SHAPED COIN CHUTE STRUCTURE MEMBER, HAVING TWO SIDE WALLS INTERCONNECTED BY A YOKE WALL, (C) MEANS PIVOTING THE UPPER END OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPTED MEMBER TO SAID BASE PLATE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BASE PLATE, (D) SPRING MEANS URGING THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPTED MEMBER TOWARD SAID BASE PLATE, (E) A PAIR OF COIN CHUTE WALL MEMBERS EACH PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO THE INSIDES OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED MEMBER AND EACH CHUTE MEMBER BEING SWINGABLE ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND TOWARD ONE ANOTHER ABOUT THEIR PIVOTS, 